There were different types of equipment each designed according to the specialty that a soldier was trained for. This section will cover what the infantryman carried with him. I will categorize the equipment, each with its own description.
Weapon: The most essential part to any infantryman's immediate survival is his rifle. The basic infantryman carried an M-1 rifle. It was gas operated and held an 8 round en bloc clip of 30.06 ammunition. It weighed approximately 9.5 pounds. It was carried on the shoulder by a leather sling. A light OD web sling was introduced in 1943. An M1942 16" bayonet accompanied the rifle. These were left over from the army's use of the 1903 Springfield rifle. As the war progressed the bayonet was manufactured to 10" in length. Its scabbard was made of a plastic material. Some rifleman also carried an M-3 fighting knife. The scabbard was either leather or plastic.
Ammo Belt: The M1938 12 pocket ammo belt was issued to hold the clips for the rifle. A strap in the back adjusted the belt. It also had grommets to carry other small pieces of equipment. The two most common pieces that were carried was the M1910 canteen and the M1924 carlisle (first aid) pouch. The canteen had either a metal or plastic cap. If a haversack wasn't worn, the M -1936 combat suspenders were clipped to the ammo belt.
Haversack: Each haversack was designated M1928. It had an inner flap on each side and one on the bottom that was wrapped over individual items to be carried. They were attached together by straps with buckles. A top flap covered the inner flaps and attached to the bottom of the sack. Attached to the top flap was a meat tin pouch that carried a mess kit that included a knife, fork, and spoon. The haversack was attached to the ammo belt by four straps that had a clip at the end.
E - tool: There were two types. The first was a designated M1910. This had a "T" handle and a carrier that fit over the blade of the shovel. In 1943 the e - tool that was issued had a folding blade.
All of the above gear were made of light OD heavy-duty web canvas. The color changed to a dark OD green color as the war progressed.
